A new frame for the 45!

[79fj40moneypit]

I picked up a long wheelbase frame in NY for $450.It is missing a few pcs off it and it has one soft spot under the front passenger side inner spring hanger. but it is far better than what I have and really a easy fix. It even came with 4 springs.
So far I put it up on stands and ground all the buck rivits off and drilled them out. Pulled out the inner frame and the rear shock crossmember.I took out the crossmember gussets. I took off the two supports for the front cab mounts to clean out the rust delamination. I am going to flip it over in the morning and take off the spring hanger and cut out the soft area and weld in a replacement piece. In the next couple of weeks I want to get the frame blasted so I can rust bullet the inside

I need a measurement of the rear crossmember I dont have one on the frame.

Any thoughts on fully boxing and welding the frame? Good bad idea? This truck will be a driver and mild off roader. I am going to make new inner frame pcs and I thought about welding it completely rather than drilling and bolting it back together and then doing Matt"s trick of using flange nuts and cutting the bolt stub off and drilling and welding them.

 

[ADUB100]

Congrats on the frame, I know how hard they are to come by! I have a 65 LPB frame or what left of it after I took off what I needed for my new frame. The old frame was solid but butchered beyond repair, soooo I have a few parts still on the old, let me know what you need and maybe I can help you out. I may have a rear cross member, I will have to take a look, its in the back 40.

 

[79fj40moneypit]

I was lucky on the frame I got a pm on pirate with a phone number called the guy and took a ride the next morning to ny,he was asking $650. but took $450. after seeing the soft spot. Lucky me.

 

[whitey45]

Been wheelin the crap out of my 1 ton 45 for 10 years and the frame is stock and rock solid, would'nt worry about boxing, these frames are stout!.. Nice score on the frame, without the net, it would be impossible to find anything related to a 45!

 

[79fj40moneypit]

Been wheelin the crap out of my 1 ton 45 for 10 years and the frame is stock and rock solid, would'nt worry about boxing, these frames are stout!.. Nice score on the frame, without the net, it would be impossible to find anything related to a 45!

Thanks for the reply, I guess I'll bolt it back together then. Ya the net is great for finding parts.

This morning I pulled the steering box and drilled out the mount, going GM saginaw so I won't need that, flipped the frame and just measured the and marked the area that I am cutting out. Though I had more time to work on it today but the has other things for me to do.

 

[79fj40moneypit]

Cut out the soft spot under the front spring mount,I ended it right before the first rivet which was good because it kept the location right on, I went back 18 inches before I was happy,I burned it in deep. put the perch back on with grade 8 bolts with the heads ground to look like the rivets and cut access holes in the inner frame rail tightened the nuts as much as possible and welded them.
started to look for other spots and found a spot under the drivers side bump stop, so I cut out 12 inches on the outer rail and the inner was shot also,cut and repaired the inner then made a new piece for the outside burned it in, drilled holes for three new bolts and did "Matts" trick put the bolts in from the inside of the frame put the nuts on cut the excess off drilled the center and welded it up and ground it around. I have to say thanks to Matt his method works great! Drilled the holes for the bump stops dropped some nuts into the holes and tacked them around. Done for today.

 

[79fj40moneypit]

Not much done on the frame today,ordered some steel channel for the rear crossmember and for the supports. I sorted out all inside frame pcs I have to fix a couple edges. After the frame is blasted I can put them back in. I cut the rear spring mounts off cleaned up all the weld and bolted them back on . I wonder why the were welded on? I thought they were riveted on.

 

[79fj40moneypit]

Did a little today, I took off the passenger side front cab support and the frame looks quite thin where the sides touch the frame. I am not sure of what to do yet but I may cut it out or build it up with the welder.
Started on the inner frame pcs, but it will take time, the bottom on some need to be cut off and replaced.

 

[79fj40moneypit]

I decided to cut the piece of the frame out under the cab support. Came out realy nice put the support back on drilled all new holes in the frame. Picked up the rear crossmember piece and new supports for crossmember that I had patterson manufacturing make on there 60 ton press.